Are magnets allowed?

[HeyIt'sFez!]

My team was wondering if the use of magnets during any part of the game is illegal. If they are legal, which ones are allowed, and when?

[Tom Line]

If the rules do not state they are illegal, then they are not. I am not aware of any rule outlawing the use of magnets, but I am not an official. I suggest you download the game manual and do a search for the word 'magnet'.

[V.M.Santore]

There are no rules against the use of magnets; I do however suggest you keep them very very far away from your cRIO.

[Navid Shafa]

You don't mean an electro-magnet do you? Thoughts have been drifting that way...

[Trez]

Magnets were common on mini-bots during Logomotion a few years ago.

[jhusser]

If you are thinking the same as me by using magnets to help get up the pyramid. We discovered that the pyramid is made of aluminum

[nikeairmancurry]

Originally Posted by jhusser

If you are thinking the same as me by using magnets to help get up the pyramid. We discovered that the pyramid is made of aluminum

2.2.5 The Pyramid
The PYRAMID is made out of 1 1/2 in. diameter steel tubing and powder coated Red or Blue.

Nope magnets are a go.

[CalTran]

Discussed in this thread. As well, there is nothing in the rules against magnets, but there are a few things to take into account.
1. You will be hard pressed to find manageable rare Earth magnets that will hold your entire robot.
2. Electromagnets, while possible to design, may not fall under custom circuits. As well, keep in mind that power is cut at the end of the match, in which you risk up to an 8 foot fall.

[Nirnaeth]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Discussed in this thread. As well, there is nothing in the rules against magnets, but there are a few things to take into account.
1. You will be hard pressed to find manageable rare Earth magnets that will hold your entire robot.
2. Electromagnets, while possible to design, may not fall under custom circuits. As well, keep in mind that power is cut at the end of the match, in which you risk up to an 8 foot fall.

Hmm, what about using magnets for alignment, similar to how the Microsoft Surface has alignment magnets for their covers?

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by Nirnaeth

Hmm, what about using magnets for alignment, similar to how the Microsoft Surface has alignment magnets for their covers?

The Microsoft Surface uses those magnets to align the cases, correct? Those are already designed to be lined up, and they weight almost nothing.

Magnets to align the robot would have to be incredibly powerful to be able to turn the robot into position.

Unless of course you had a way of sending back how "strong" the magnet is trying to pull in one direction.

[PhantomPhyxer]

Originally Posted by jhusser

If you are thinking the same as me by using magnets to help get up the pyramid. We discovered that the pyramid is made of aluminum

Please check the Game Piece Drawings at this location:http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...c_Drawings.pdf

Item 3, GE-13020-03
1 1/2" x .083 Wall thickness 1020 (20 pts of Carbon) DOM ( Drawn Over Mandrel) Structural Round Steel Tubing, Drawing Title Pyramind Leg, Middle

If you check the drawings closely the Aluminum parts are not for the Tower.

[SophRoboDawg]

Where exactly did you see this? I was looking and I didn't see it anywhere...

[Jim Wilks]

Originally Posted by V.M.Santore

I do however suggest you keep them very very far away from your cRIO.

Why?

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by Jim Wilks

Why?

I'm assuming he is referring to the fact that magnets have the capability to erase hard drives.

If i'm not mistaken though, the cRIO uses flash memory.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by nighterfighter

I'm assuming he is referring to the fact that magnets have the capability to erase hard drives.

Any permanent magnet you'd be comfortable holding by hand near a hard drive can't erase or corrupt it.¹ (There are stronger magnets inside the hard drive, much closer to the platters, and yet it still works.)

¹ If you're going to prove me wrong, post pictures and specifications. I'm genuinely curious.